Question

6. Discuss how polymorphism in the cnidarians might have influenced adaptive radiation of the group.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

The class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria includes a wide range of corals and marine animals. Cnidarian polymorphism: Medusa and Polyp are two phases wherein cnidarians vary their morphology for adaption, resulting in them mostly existing as dimorphic zooids. Finally, as the medusa stage develops, these colonial polyps might differentiate into specialized forms.

Medusa forms possess velum, manubrium, defined radial canals, and accompanying ring canal, as well as other components like ocelli and statocysts, demonstrating their adaptability to their survival. Polyp stages have adaptive radiation, including such stolon and structures like hydranth and planula, to help them escape predators. Other structures commonly found include gonangia and gonopore.

Hydra is a kind of freshwater animal belonging to the class Cnidaria. Hydra is diploblastic, which implies it has two tissues: nerve and muscular tissue. Mesoglea is a gel-like material that separates the epidermis and the gastrodermis. Charles Darwin used these finches in his experiments to illustrate how changes in the environment, allelic alterations, and mutation effect affected the species' adaptive radiation.